Pattabirama Rao had granted bail to Janardhana Reddy on May 12,a decision that had immediately come under investigation of the CBI that is investigating the illegal mining case against the Bellary baron.

The CBI had tipped off Andhra Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Madan Lokur that it had evidence to prove that Pattabirama Rao had been bribed to grant the bail,and that it was Ravichandra who had fixed the deal.

After examining phone records and CCTV visuals allegedly showing the accused striking a deal and exchanging money at a hotel,the high court had suspended Pattabirama Rao.

The evidence apparently showed Raos son striking a deal with four aides of Reddy,with Rs 6 crore being allegedly paid to secure bail. Also involved in the deal were allegedly former district judge Venkat Chalapati,who was also detained by the ACB. After Chief Justice Lokur ordered the suspension of Pattabirama Rao,the case was transferred to the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Chalapathi and Pattabiramas son Ravichandra were questioned by ACB officials on Saturday before they were arrested.

The ACB had registered a case on June 9 against Pattabirama Rao and seven others under IPC and the Prevention of Corruption Act. It had also registered a case against Reddys elder brother Gali Somasekhara Reddy,the MLA from Bellary City,for being involved in the deal to bribe the judge to secure bail.

The CBI,conducting investigations on its own,had earlier raided the residences of Pattabirama Rao,Ravichandra,Chalapati Rao and his son. They claim to have recovered Rs 2.6 crore in cash from the bank lockers of Ravichandra,allegedly the advance paid by Reddys aides to secure bail.